First time at SCI- advice?

[Jrod05]

My cousin and our wives are going to Nashville planning a few hunts in Africa I’ll be a first timer in Africa and my cousin has been once before. We both joined sci as lifetime to take advantage of tickets but looking for any seasoned sci goers to give advice it seems like a lot to get done in a short time.

Thank you in advance, I’m sure swaro will be there and I am curious if they do binoc cleanings on site I got sand in my eye pieces from chasing nilgai in South Texas. This is just a after thought tho.

Only plans so far is to go check in on heym for the rifle I ordered and that’s really it so far.

Thank you all in advance

 

[mdwest]

I’ve never seen swaro or any of the optics manufacturers do any service at any of the shows… most of them dont even do any retail sales… they are just showing off their new lines, telling people about all of their features, etc… if you want to buy, there will be a handful of retailers on the floor.. they’ll refer you to them…

My best advice if you’re a first timer is… take your time…

The big shoes can be overwhelming… and exhibitors can get very busy… if there’s someone you are interested or really want to talk to, make it happen… it might require you standing around for a few minutes, or coming back in a little while… but, don’t miss an opportunity to engage with a retailer that has something you want, or an outfitter you think you may want to hunt with because they’re tied up at the moment… there is a reason they’re busy…

 

[Flipper Dude]

Ah, a Leanderthal! I’ll see you guys in Nashville!

(Of course, we won’t know when it happens, cuz we don’t know each other from Adam!).

I can introduce you to some PHs that I’ve used that are top notch, if that’s a thing of interest.

 

[Mountaineer]

Allow enough time (multiple days). You will learn a bunch and therefore have boat loads more questions than you ever imagined. You will be talking with the pros and they will get into the details. Enjoy the show!

 

[Jrod05]

Ah, a Leanderthal! I’ll see you guys in Nashville!

(Of course, we won’t know when it happens, cuz we don’t know each other from Adam!).

I can introduce you to some PHs that I’ve used that are top notch, if that’s a thing of interest.

That would be fantastic

 

[Jrod05]

I’ve never seen swaro or any of the optics manufacturers do any service at any of the shows… most of them dont even do any retail sales… they are just showing off their new lines, telling people about all of their features, etc… if you want to buy, there will be a handful of retailers on the floor.. they’ll refer you to them…

My best advice if you’re a first timer is… take your time…

The big shoes can be overwhelming… and exhibitors can get very busy… if there’s someone you are interested or really want to talk to, make it happen… it might require you standing around for a few minutes, or coming back in a little while… but, don’t miss an opportunity to engage with a retailer that has something you want, or an outfitter you think you may want to hunt with because they’re tied up at the moment… there is a reason they’re busy…

Thank you, we will be there Thursday to Sunday and we absolutely will take this advice

 

[coreydb]

Overlook nothing.

 

[MacJenkins]

Here is what I have do the last several years that I wish I had been doing 20 years ago. Read through the whole exhibitor list and have the ones you want to see written down with their booth number. I can't tell you how many times I would get home and somehow missed something I intended to check out. That was back when we did the show for 3-4 days and you wonder how you could have missed them. We have done it enough shows now that attend one full day on the first or second day when it's less busy and we can get it all done.

Then we generally are booking hunts 2-3 years out. We generally already have our hunts booked for the current year as getting prime dates with great outfitters are generally gone IMO. Not to say something can't pop or they get some additional quota, etc.

 

[Shootist43]

Jrod05, don't forget about the AH get together Friday evening.

 

[Jrod05]

I just saw that, figured we would be too last minute I think our wives may have booked dinner but I want a hat and meet some people that know much more than me

 

[Tanner Lee]

I have been to SCI three times and many other shows many times. There are few things that I would recommend doing especially if you are there shopping for a hunt.

1. Define what you want to do, country, region, species
2. Type of experience you want, level of luxury(accommodation), type of hunting, after/before trip excursions
3. Set a budget

Use these kind of things as your guiding rod, and start going through the exhibitors list. Research them, ask around about them, really dig into everything you can before the show. This will help you narrow down your list of potential outfitters. Then when at the show seek them out and dig into questions that your prior research didn’t answer or anything else that has come to mind.

There is plenty more things that you can do or questions to ask then what I have mentioned but I feel this is a good starting point for a newbie.

 

[Rare Breed]

My cousin and our wives are going to Nashville planning a few hunts in Africa I’ll be a first timer in Africa and my cousin has been once before. We both joined sci as lifetime to take advantage of tickets but looking for any seasoned sci goers to give advice it seems like a lot to get done in a short time.

Thank you in advance, I’m sure swaro will be there and I am curious if they do binoc cleanings on site I got sand in my eye pieces from chasing nilgai in South Texas. This is just a after thought tho.

Only plans so far is to go check in on heym for the rifle I ordered and that’s really it so far.

Thank you all in advance

Awesome! you and your cousins with wives should come to our AH.com dinner Friday night to meet everyone. Please look for Rare Breed and 2026 SCI and DSC dinner threads for location and time. Love to have you!

 

[Rare Breed]

Here is what I have do the last several years that I wish I had been doing 20 years ago. Read through the whole exhibitor list and have the ones you want to see written down with their booth number. I can't tell you how many times I would get home and somehow missed something I intended to check out. That was back when we did the show for 3-4 days and you wonder how you could have missed them. We have done it enough shows now that attend one full day on the first or second day when it's less busy and we can get it all done.

Then we generally are booking hunts 2-3 years out. We generally already have our hunts booked for the current year as getting prime dates with great outfitters are generally gone IMO. Not to say something can't pop or they get some additional quota, etc.

Spot on…this is exactly what I do!!!

 

[farmer_john]

My cousin and our wives are going to Nashville planning a few hunts in Africa I’ll be a first timer in Africa and my cousin has been once before. We both joined sci as lifetime to take advantage of tickets but looking for any seasoned sci goers to give advice it seems like a lot to get done in a short time.

Thank you in advance, I’m sure swaro will be there and I am curious if they do binoc cleanings on site I got sand in my eye pieces from chasing nilgai in South Texas. This is just a after thought tho.

Only plans so far is to go check in on heym for the rifle I ordered and that’s really it so far.

Thank you all in advance

Im in a similar boat as you are. Heres kimda the process im doing. And others feel free to correct my thought process/convention plans.
So i like you am doing 4 days of the convention.
Theres alot of classes and seminars during the convention.
From the list of them on the sci website theres alot geared toward first time hunters going to africa. Other conservation and investment stuff ect....
Also having one on getting our nc chapter stood up.

I also have a few vendors I have as a priority to see and things to buy.

Then theres the evening stuff.
Got tickets for wednsday thursday. Sadly saturday was sold out. What i get for procrastinating and friday is the AH get together.

Question for group: seminars do you have to pre register or just show up?

 

[375Fox]

Find the list of exhibitors and write a list of the outfitters and booth numbers you want to make it a priority to speak with. The booths will often have past or potential clients talking at them. Don’t be afraid to interrupt and say you’d like to talk and will take a seat to wait. Those conversations finish up faster than you think. Otherwise you’ll circle a booth 10 times and they’ll always be busy. After you get through your list then you can just be a tourist, but go in with a plan if you want to accomplish something.